Cross-word puzzle



Patented May 24, 1927.

UNITED STATES mxona TRBOJEVICH, or HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN.

CROSS-WORD PUZZLE.

Application filed March 8, 1926. Serial No. 93,287.-

The invention relates to an improvement in the well known cross-word puzzles.

The object of the invention is to eliminate the black squares used in the present crossword. puzzles and to replace them by a-systern of vertical and horizontal lines, (preferably heavily drawn), the object of said lilies being to separate the horizontal and the vertical w rds from each other, respectively.

The advantages of this improved puzzle are the following :--(l) By discarding the black squares approximately twenty five per cent .is gained in compactness, that is, other things being equal, the new puzzle contains twenty five per cent more letters or words for the same size of the puzzle. (2) By doubling the number of separating elements a greater number of combinations is obtaiir able, and it is possible to furnish a greater variety of pleasing and novel designs. These puzzles are also easier to print with the usually available equipment. By virtue of a greater flexibility it, is possible to construct puzzles that do not contain any blind or unkeyed letters. It is also pos sible to avoid the two letter words which are sometimes too monotonous to the solver of.

the puzzle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows the task part of a typical puzzleof the new kind.

Fig. 2 is the solution of the puzzle shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a solution of another puzzle of the same type showing the absence of un keyed letters or words containing only two letters.

Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrams explaining the method of avoiding unkeyed letters in construction of the improved puzzles.

The method of constructing the new puzzles will readily be understood by referring to Figs. 1 and 2. The constructor or designer first selects a square or some other simple geometrical figure and subdivides it in a suitable number of smaller squares by a network of horizontal lines it and vertical lines 2), Fig. 2. The designer then plots the heavily drawn separating lines .9 endeavoring to produce a pattern that is new, pleasing to the eye and also such that will split the horizontal and vertical rows of the puzzle in segments that can be filled out with interlocking words without too much labor. At this place the designer has an opportunity to exercise his ingenuity and artistic ability, as the form of the pattern in many cases serves to attract the readers attention,

one of the objects of a good, puzzle. After a suitable pi-itte'rn has been decided upon, the designer proceeds to fill out the horizontal and vertical segi'nents with good Fhrglish words, preferably using only words that are'listed in standard collegiate dictionaries. No hard and fast rule can be given as to how to find suitable words to fill in, although it is of great help to know that it is advisable to start with a long word and Work toward the nearest corner. In such a manner a solution such is shown in Fig. 9. is pre pared. The next step is to draw the diagram shown in Fig. 1 which diagram is similar insize and pattern to Fig. 2 except that the letter spaces are left blank and the beginning of each word, wheth-erhorizontal or vertical, is marked in the upper left corner of the corresponding sn'iallsquare with a serial number.- The numbering begins at the upper left corner of the puzzle,

and runs to the right first in the first horizontal row, then in the second row, etc. The

next step is to prepare a list of hints or cues relating to each and every word in the puzzle which will enable the reader to at least make a guess as to what the corresponding word should be. The hints are mostly in the form of synonyms or in lack of those, in dictionary or other definitions that may appear as sufficient. For instance, for Fig. 1 the list of cues would be of the following form:

Horizontal.

1. A watering place.

4. Container for fodder.

8. Affected with a dreaded disease. 13. To deface.

14:. Money.

15. Place of combat.

Vertical To shatter.

Glue.

Vessel (bibl.).

A species of bivalve mollusks.

. Jot.

Falsehood etc. I From the above it is seen that the preparation of the list of synonyms or cues for these new puzzles does not present a departure from the well known and well established portion of the improved puzzle. mow the 'words Rio and air in Fig. 4. FTheyare'termina-tedby a black square each which automatically renders the second t method of preparing such lists for the common puzzles. 7 g

In publishing the new puzzles the diagram shown in Fig. 1 together with the list of synonyms is published first while .the solution, Fig. 2, is Withheld in order to give the reader time to solve the puzzle witlioiitauy outside aid. The solution is usually published'in a subsequent issue, thus giving the reader an opportunityto check up the version obtained by himself with the correct'solution.

Fi .3 shows an interesting pattern of the new ind in which there are neither'single unkeyed letters, nor two letter words, the shortest word consisting of at least three letters. It will be appreciated by all those familiar with the present cross-word puzzles that such eifects and such freedom from the :pattern are not obtainable in the conven .tional puzzle.

This advantage isalso illustrated in Figs. 4 and :5. Fig. 4 represents a portionof a conventional puzzle, and Fig. 5 a similar Consider in fatty and the t in fret unkeyed. On the other hand, in Fig. 5'the words Rio and air being terminated by only a vertical and a horizontal line respectively, the two ts in fatty and fret are no longer obstructed but may be continued in words such as "-talon'and -thr0b. This is a distinctiadvantage as according to the prevailing standards (such as were formulated by the Amateur Gross- 0rd Puzzle League of America at its meeting, September 27, 1924, in the Wanamaker Auditorium, New York city), the number of unkeyed letters must be kept down to a minimum of not over one tenth of the letters. In the improved puzzle there are no unkeyed letters at all, which fact naturally, gives a better interlock and a more scientific puzzle.

\Vhat Iclaim as my invention is:

1. A cross-word puzzle comprising a series of crossing lines forming a pattern con- .taininga plurality of similar inclosed spaces, one space for each letter,,and a series of lines distinguishable from the first mentioned lines inserted between adjacent inclosed spaces formin the boundaries of the Words spelled by said letters.

2. A cross-word puzzle comprising a network of squares, each adapted to contain a letter, and a series of lines extendingbetween adjacent squares and arranged to indicate the boundaries of the words.

In testimony whereof I .aflix my signature.

NIKOLA TRBOJEVICH. 

